A veteran of the ninja world: surviving from the Six Paths of Heroes to Boruto

Wanci looked at the proud and upright young man before him, his eyes expressionless, his tone flat:

"A sharp edge that is too exposed is easily broken; one should always leave room for maneuver and not be overly certain."

Upon hearing this, Indra immediately dropped his smugness, bowed respectfully, and nodded, his wisps of hair falling down to cover his eyes and brows: "Disciple will remember the teachings of the Patriarch."

But his slightly tense back and the lingering light in his eyes couldn't hide his disapproval.

It is only natural for the eldest son to inherit the family business. Moreover, he has benefited the entire Ninja Sect with his hand seal technique. In terms of talent, achievements, and bloodline, who else could be the heir but him?

How could someone as naive and innocent as Ashura, who even needed protection from wild wolves, possibly lead such a large ninja sect?

This thought lingered in my mind, deeply rooted, and countless times the light-hearted word "humility" was nothing more than a passing breeze.

Wanci took in the flicker in his eyes and understood.

The young man's pride had already grown into a towering tree amidst the adulation of others and his own success. His nodding in agreement at this moment was merely a superficial gesture out of respect for the master-disciple relationship.

Pride comes before a fall, a truth that has held true throughout history. While Indra's talent was indeed rare, his arrogance and disdain for others had become his greatest weakness.

Wan Ci gently shook his head, the Six Paths Sword at his fingertips trembling slightly, emitting a very soft hum. Then, his figure transformed into a wisp of mist, quietly dissipating into the tranquility of the bamboo forest.

Indra was left standing alone in the same spot.

When he reappeared, Wanci was already standing inside a simple wooden house.

The room was simply furnished, with only a small table, a few bamboo scrolls, and a couch covered with an old mattress.

The man sitting at the desk, Yu Yi, had white hair and wrinkles etched on his face like ravines. Although his back was still straight, it could not hide the vicissitudes of time that had bent him over.

"Master, you've arrived."

Yu Yi slowly rose, her movements slightly sluggish, yet she maintained a respectful posture, bowing slightly in greeting.

"Um."

Wanci's gaze lingered on his aged face for a moment, and the image of their first meeting involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

Back then, Yu Yi had sharp eyes and a strong sense of righteousness. To protect the one she loved, she dared to fight her own mother.

Time flies like an arrow; the young man of yesteryear could not withstand the erosion of time and has turned into the frail old man he is now.

Wan waved his hand and said, "So many years have passed, no need for such formalities."

Yu Yi sat down as instructed, her fingertips tracing the cool bamboo slips on the table. After a moment of silence, she calmly said, "Master, I'm dying."

He spoke these words casually, as if he were just talking about the weather, but deep in his eyes lay a trace of longing for the mortal world and concern for the Ninja Sect.

"The Ninja Sect is the culmination of my life's work. I have pondered the matter of succession for a long time, and in the end, I feel that I can only be at ease handing it over to my blood relatives."

"Indra and Asura are both of my own flesh and blood. I have more faith in them than in outsiders in upholding the foundation of the Ninja Sect."

Wanci smiled faintly to himself. In the end, he could not escape the obsession with "family rule". Even though Yu Yi advocated connection and goodwill throughout her life, in the end, she still regarded bloodline as the most reliable bond.

He didn't spell it out, but looked into Yu Yi's aged eyes and slowly said, "You can make your own decision."

He had not come here to interfere with the choice of successor, but simply to see with his own eyes whether his former disciple, even in his old age, still retained the strength he once possessed.

Yu Yi seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, or perhaps she had mustered immense courage, as she slowly rose and bowed deeply to Wan Ci, her forehead almost touching the ground: "Master, after I die, could you grant me one request?"

Wanci raised his hand in a gesture of support, indicating that he should stand up: "Go on."

"You are an elder who has lived for countless years, and you have always been able to distinguish right from wrong and have never been confused."

Yu Yi raised her head, her eyes filled with earnestness.

"Although the Ninja Sect is now thriving, various kingdoms in the mortal realm are gradually rising up, and conflicts are brewing. I fear that Indra and Asura are young and inexperienced, and if the Ninja Sect encounters a crisis in the future, they will be unable to cope."

At that time, we humbly request that Master intervene to set things right and thwart all conspiracies.

With a tone of entrustment, Yu Yi entrusted the future of the entire Ninja Clan to the transcendent immortal before her.

Looking at his devout expression, Wanci said in a calm and unwavering tone, "I know this, and I will make my own judgment."

Manji already had other plans in mind: the Ninja Cult, though seemingly a religion that promoted goodwill, had in fact long become a powerful political and military organization.

In the mortal realm, numerous kingdoms exist, and monarchs may worship this ethereal Sage of Six Paths, for this faith can consolidate their rule. However, they would never tolerate the existence of a powerful ninja sect with a vast military force and widespread influence.

On the side of the couch, how can you allow others to snore?

He had no feelings for the Ninja Clan, and the so-called "restoration of order" was nothing more than empty words.

His only goal has always been the Rinnegan; what does the rise and fall of the Ninja Clan have to do with him?

Unaware of the coldness in his heart, Yu Yi assumed he had agreed and smiled with relief, bowing deeply.

"Thank you, Master."

"As for the matter of the successor, I will inform you as soon as I have made my choice."

Wan nodded slightly, saying nothing more.

.........

Two years have passed quietly.

The bamboo forest of the Ninja Sect has grown increasingly lush, with green bamboos growing taller and blocking out the sun. The two children from back then have grown into handsome young men.

Indra was dressed in dark, close-fitting clothes, his posture was as upright as a pine tree, and the youthful innocence in his eyes had faded, replaced by a sharp edge.

He stood in the crowd, exuding an aura of detachment that kept strangers at bay, surrounded by a calm yet cold presence.

In the past two years, with his superb hand seals and extraordinary talent, he has become a role model for the Ninja Clan disciples, and wherever he goes, he is met with awe.

He has matured a lot, and become much more ruthless.

The Asura beside him, however, was a completely different story.

He was dressed in a light gray cloth robe, his figure was slightly broad, and his face still had a gentle smile, with his eyebrows and eyes curved, revealing a sense of friendliness.

But beneath this gentleness lies a sense of unease.

Compared to his brother's dazzling brilliance, he always felt inferior in every way.

In the past two years, Yu Yi's health has deteriorated, but she has never stopped observing her two sons.

Watching Indra handle affairs with swift and decisive efficiency, and seeing him solve the Ninja Sect's problems with precise techniques, he had to admit that his eldest son's abilities were indeed far beyond those of ordinary people.

But he also saw Indra's cold-heartedness and harshness when his disciples made mistakes, and his autocratic and unwilling-to-listen-to-others attitude.

That inherent arrogance and decisiveness was just like Kaguya back then, making Hagoromo feel vaguely uneasy.

Asuras are always soft-hearted and compassionate, unable to bear seeing others suffer, and always want to resolve disputes through reconciliation.

The disciples all liked this gentle second young master, but Yu Yi knew that this indecisiveness might become a fatal weakness in chaotic times.

He often thought that if Indra's decisiveness could be combined with Asura's kindness, that would be the most perfect successor.

But where in the world can you find something that is perfect in every way?

On this day, the main hall of the Ninja Clan was bustling with noise.

All the core disciples and elders gathered here.

Sarutobi stood at the front of the disciples, his expression calm, his gaze sweeping over the two people in the hall.

Yu Yi sat in the main seat, her face pale but her eyes still clear.

He raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and his hoarse but powerful voice echoed in the hall: "I have summoned you all here today to announce an important matter."

Yu Yi's gaze slowly swept over her two sons below, paused for a moment, and continued, "My lifespan is coming to an end, and the Ninja Sect cannot be without a leader for even a day."

"From this day forward, the successor will be chosen from among Indra and Asura."

As soon as he finished speaking, a low murmur of discussion arose in the hall.

Most of the disciples looked surprised, yet felt it was only natural—after all, Indra's excellence was undeniable.

Indra stood still, his back straightening even more, a hint of expected light flashing in his eyes, and a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.

He had been waiting for this day for a long time; he was determined to get the position of heir.

Ashura, on the other hand, remained indifferent and gentle.

He doesn't care about the successor of the Ninja Sect.

Hello everyone, he's fine.

Ignoring everyone's reactions, Hagoromo slowly stood up, picked up two scrolls from the table, and handed them to Sarutobi beside him.

"This is a test for the two of you."

"The scroll contains two villages. Go there and solve their problems in your own way. Return to report when you have completed your mission."

Sarutobi handed the scrolls to Indra and Ashura respectively.

Indra took the scroll, his fingertips touching the cool bamboo skin, feeling confident that with his abilities, quelling the village problem would be a piece of cake.

Ashura, however, held the scroll, his face full of difficulty. He looked up at Yu Yi, his voice tinged with helplessness and uncertainty: "Ah? Father, why send me to choose an heir?"

Ashura paused and said helplessly, "Brother is so outstanding. Whether it's strength or the ability to handle things, he far surpasses me. Let him handle it on his own. I... I'm afraid I won't do a good job."

These words came from the bottom of my heart.

In his heart, his brother was always an unattainable figure, and all he could do was follow behind and not hold him back.

Indra glanced at him sideways, his eyes indifferent, and said nothing.

Over the past two years, the differences between them have deepened. He disapproved of Ashura's indecisiveness, feeling that he was too naive and incapable of achieving great things.

Ashura also disliked her brother's cold-heartedness, feeling that he was too domineering and lacked human warmth.

Although they were brothers, they grew increasingly distant from each other, and apart from necessary greetings, they had almost no other communication.